If you’ve driven around Mooroopna in the past few weeks, residents may have noticed some creative artwork taking place.
Outside and behind the Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre on Morrell St, the dirty brick wall was once covered in graffiti.
Now, the wall has been transformed into a vibrant palette of colour thanks to a Greater Shepparton City Council grant and a bit of creative inspiration.
The idea to turn the wall into a mural came to MEAC manager Jan Phillips on a bus trip home from Melbourne as it was coming into Mooroopna.
Ms Phillips said a man on the bus insisted they stop at the mural where Youngs and Co Real Estate is, and he showed off the mural, saying it was one of the best things he had done.
“He was really proud of it, having that feeling of completing something, and it’s a beautiful installation,” she said.
“I thought, good on you, mate, I’m glad you made us stop, and that was what gave me the idea.
“Our mural would be about empowering young people. They get to start, contribute and complete a project, working with leaders in our community, and they get to do something as a collaboration and working as part of a team creating.”
MEAC applied for council’s Empowering Communities Project Grant, and once approved, the ball was rolling, and it didn’t take long for plans to come to fruition.
Fairley Leadership participant Rachael McAlister took on the role of project manager as part of her community project for the leadership program, and local artist Tank was brought on as the principal artist for the project.
Between them, they attended workshops with the youth from Olly (Opportunities and Life Links for Youth) to brainstorm ideas on what they wanted to see on a mural that reflected Mooroopna.
From the ideas shared by Olly participants, Tank designed a concept and started the process of undercoating the wall and painting the design’s outline.
In the last two weeks, Olly participants and community members, alongside Tank, have painted in the gaps.
Ms McAlister said the turnout from both community leaders and Olly youth was fantastic and highlighted the original purpose of the project.
“The project is about engaging youth along with role models to give them a sense of purpose, a sense of teamwork,” she said.
“It’s about empowering our youth and making them feel part of their community, so this is good to see.”
A grand opening of the mural will take place at the end of the month, with the date and time to be announced.